Gastroscopy procedure ..feeling scared!

[kissmelittleass]

Due to have this done Friday morning and I am so scared. I have a terrible gagging reflex and I don't think I can do it. Nurse rang me today she said it should only take 10 minutes and I can leave by lunchtime. She was rushed and I forgot to ask her if I will be sedated, can I request this? I will feel much happier if I'm asleep and won't know anything about it. Anyone here had one done please tell me I will be asleep! Oh and how was it?

Hi. I had one some years ago now and was sedated. I didn't actually know I was going to be () but I said I was very nervous. All I remember is saying to the dr "ooh, I think I fell asleep there!" (Like you would ). I had no memory of the procedure. I think you should ring back and check. Good luck anyway.

Thanks Tobee I'm really anxious I hope I can be sedated.

I had mine a few months ago. I wasn't sedated just numbing spray. You can ask to be sedated but it's not asleep sedation anymore it's more spaced out day dreaming unaware sedation. My mums had four gastroscopies in recent years due to many issues and she's had all the options.

If you opt to be sedated you have to be monitored and stay in for about 3-6 hours afterwards. If no sedation you'll be out sighing 30 minutes of the procedure.

It's not pleasant I'm not going to lie. But practice breathing exercises and that will massively help. Any questions just ask lol I've got lots of personal and familial recent experience.

You'll be fine they look after you!

*within not sighing stupid autocorrect

Usually you can only be sedated if you have someone there with you who can take you home.

I have a bad gag reflex and opted for the numbing spray and sedation, for me the worse thing was the panic attack I had when they numbed my throat, as I felt like I couldn't breath. They have me something to calm me down straight away and got on with the procedure. It was absolutely fine, I must have been out of it as it went so quickly.

I had sedation, cameras in both ends. Not pleasant but the sedation definitely made it bearable. Good luck x

I was nervous and arrived with high blood pressure. I asked for lots of sedation and they were great about it. I have no memory of the procedure at all other than the numbing mouth spray and opening my mouth for the tube. I did not stay in the required 3-6 hours, but they just checked that my breathing and blood pressure had returned to normal. The whole thing was exceptionally fast, apparently. I felt silly that I had been so nervous and I was virtually skipping on my way out!

Oh god I will definitely be skipping on my way out!! My gag reflex is bad so the thoughts of it all is making me a nervous wreck! I just want to be asleep through it I can imagine myself grabbing the nurse hand and stopping them ..natural instinct! Will I be persuaded to have the numbing throat spray? Because I need to be asleep through it can I insist or will that make me look like a nightmare patient?

I was sedated (don't remember being given the option not to be tbh but that was in Ireland so maybe it's slightly different) and honestly barely remember it. I don't think they can refuse to sedate you but maybe you could ring in advance to check so they know what you want? I have a terrible gag reflex too so I wouldn't have made it through with just spray. It is a super quick procedure though. Prepare to have a bit of a sore throat afterwards even if you are sedated - that was the worst part for me!

Also when you are sedated are you aware of something going down your throat or are you completely unaware of what's going on? Another worry would be that I would wake whilst they are doing the procedure and that would be awful I'm worried I won't be able to breathe! Sorry for all the questions as you can see I'm a wreck at the thoughts of it all..

Cherry.. I'm in Ireland too

Are you getting it done privately? They're probably more likely to have an anaesthesiologist to hand if so, and less worried about sedation costs.
They monitor you very carefully during sedation to keep you at a level where you're not aware of what's going on and if they sense any awareness from you they will up the sedation so don't worry. There will literally be someone right by your side whose sole job it is to monitor you constantly.

The worst bit for me was the numbing spray, which you still get it you’re sedated, I believe. It tastes vile. Also have a strong gag reflex and although not pleasant it was fine. Hope all goes well.

Actually I don't think conscious sedation requires an anaesthesiologist, it will be a specially trained nurse administering it, so I can't imagine them not letting you have it. And yes, the spray is vile, the taste will linger for a while after you wake up.

I seem to remember the spray was weird banana flavour.

In my experience they really try to discourage you from having sedation and I can see why. It’s really over in the blink of an eye and you can leave straight away although I did feel quite sick after so wouldn’t have wanted to go back to work.

I do lots of these procedures. We do the vast majority with the throat spray only. This is what you want if you’re worried about gagging as it numbs the throat and stops you feeling it passing down. The sedation does not make you go to sleep and due to how quick the procedure is it usually kicks in once we are finished! It makes the procedure much more difficult as the patient cannot cooperate as well in terms of controlling their breathing. We used to give sedation and throat spray together but current guidelines are that you should use one or the other hence most choosing spray. Some units will give both but it isn’t as safe. I promise you will be fine - I don’t remember the last time I had a patient who I couldn’t talk through the procedure with spray and everyone always says afterwards how much better it was than they anticipated.

I've had this done but the camera goes up your nose then down your throat. I had spray, which didn't bother me. I didn't have sedation as you have to have another person with you to take you home and that was just too complicated for me to sort out.
It does feel weird, but I didn't gag at all, which surprised me. I was quite nervous but it's over with so quickly you don't really mind.

Thanks everyone I've had some comfort from your replies, as strange as that sounds! I'm actually waiting in the waiting area now to be called and I feel sick to my stomach. I've been to the loo so many times and oddly enough my throat feels sore. I feel like walking out Haha god I'm a bag of nerves!

Hope it went fine,@kissmelittleass !

I was sedated. I can remember gagging on the tube, then i think tho sedation took hold and the next thing I remember is waking up about 30 minutes later.